The 7th St John’s College Youth Speaking Festival took place on Saturday, 21 September, just ahead of Heritage Day. As South Africans, we take great pride in our heritage, no matter how diverse or varied it may be. Sharing and embracing our differences enables us to appreciate and celebrate the richness of our cultural heritage. As a world-class Christian Arican school, we are committed to understanding and engaging with the broader community in which we are rooted. The youth of South Africa have long played a pivotal role in shaping national conversations, with their voices significantly contributing to our democracy. At St John’s, we encourage our boys to hone their public speaking skills and engage in debates on pressing social issues. With this in mind, the St John’s College Youth Speaking Festival was established as a platform for the youth in our community to voice their thoughts on our country and heritage while showcasing their oratory talents. This year, 11 schools from across Gauteng participated, each submitting a junior and senior speaker. The junior speakers reflected on the theme: “Yet we are one people. And we share a common destiny” – a quote from President Ramaphosa. Meanwhile, the senior speakers delved into the colourful world of South African slang, engaging with words such as ‘Eish!’, ‘Lekker’, ‘Yoh!’, and ‘Shame!’. WINNERS Seniors First: Norman Nekuvule, Centurion College Second: Blyde Schoeman, Helpmekaar Kollege Third: Tasmiyah Bhamjee, Parktown High School for Girls Juniors First: Destiny Chauke, Norkem Park High School Second: Paul Bester, Helpmekaar Kollege Best Supporters Norkem Park High School We were honoured to have esteemed adjudicators for the event. The Senior Competition was judged by Carol Crosley, Registrar of Wits University, and Raksha Semnarayan, an attorney and member of the Council of St John’s. The Junior Competition panel featured Denise Newfield, a Wits University English lecturer, Delela Ndlela (Custos 2017), an LLD graduate and winner of the inaugural Youth Speaking Festival, and Phillipa Yaa de Villiers, a writer and performance artist. Our sincere thanks go to Exclusive Books for generously sponsoring gift vouchers for the winners, MCs, and adjudicators and for promoting a love of reading among our youth. - Heather Venables, English Teacher and Tertiary Liason |
